Gray Spot On The Wall

Old Man Can’t Run Away

2012-01-05T13:26:00.001-06:00

I dart across the dry dirt

of all those years dumped beyond my porch,
drawing a dotted line from the front door
with bare feet.

But no good comes from running away
when a cough catches up

and old legs jam against cracked cement
and trip on uneven turf
sown on greener wetter days.

Like everything else that begins
and ends
in life,

remaining upright in the dirt
provides the loftier challenge

as the grime gathers under jagged edges

in a faltering grip
of yellowing nails.

Akeith Walters 2011

Indigestible Indigence

2011-11-19T14:30:00.000-06:00

A sphincter,
held tight,

like a beggar’s hand with a penny

pressing dirty knuckles
against old fashioned lapels

squinting dusty eyes against sunlight

as it sears away the last vestige
of another cold ass night,

holds at bay
the warmth of gas
pushing to escape,

that long drawn out gasp
commenting
on having passed another day.

Akeith Walters 2011

Ed Balldinger

2011-11-01T10:17:00.002-05:00

Imagine the bright morning sunlight cut by the fine crystal of a wine glass resting on the weathered wood of a picnic table. Such a diverse image of contrasts expresses what I have found in the poetry of Ed Balldinger.

His collection, From Cavity’s Kitchen To The Bone Comber’s Home, is a stark combination of creativity, illustrating the universal concepts of heart tugs in images drawn from everyday and anywhere.

From his poem I Saw You There (p 42) :

“I saw your face in a lapping flame of
a late night campfire and as the ashes rose,
I was exposed to your elements,
so I stoked the fire with wood.”

These simple, everyday images tug at the reader’s emotions. The double and triple layers of meaning are just one example of Mr. Balldinger’s style.

I always recommend supporting contemporary poets but especially so in this case.

His book as well as his CD’s can be obtained directly from the source himself.

You can also enjoy more of Ed’s writing at:

http://allpoetry.com/Balldinger

or read about his other talents at:

http://www.moodgroove.com/

Akeith Walters November 2011

Dear John, Old Truckers Run Away

2011-10-07T08:15:00.000-05:00

Day ripples
outside the motel

rising from rooftops and blacktops.

There,
dancing dust devils hold their breath
as trucks pass stagnant air.

Inside,
nicotine plaid curtains split virgin light
and bar the path
scuffled by the shuffle of your boots,

heavy heels fading away
just like you

when you fled from this room
and from this bed,

our names erased in the aftertaste
of stale beer and whiskey

and the money left on the table by the window.

Akeith Walters 2011

Event Horizon On The Curve Of The Bay

2011-08-26T11:22:00.000-05:00

Me and my old friend, Pete,
stalk the ruby specter of our youth,
a chase to an event horizon,
like the sun
that floats in a final bloat before the dip
into the clipped line of a stainless-steel ocean.

The salty mist rising from the soft surf,
stings the eyes,
our excuse for tears
even here in the foothills of this city,
this closet door left ajar
on the glitzy curve of the Pacific bay.

Manicured blocks and streetlights begin at the end
of asphalt furrows
burrowed in brows of granite faces,
snug under caps of grey flannel snow
with smeared hues,
like rouge on cheeks of old drag queens,
flaming against a sapphire sky.

And we,
boy toys of evolution,
stopped our play
to drop from branches of sequestered lives
petrified by millennia,
skipping from bars and clubs
hidden in the shaded yawns of villages,
caves once lit by fire.

Life’s fingers,
sticky with sweet regrets,
clutch at a world where nothing matters
except memories ingrained in color or black and whites,
when the flatten trail,
the Roman cement,
the red and black Kentucky dirt,
and the double ruts of prairie schooners
covered by strips of super highways,
carry us,
just two old men,
through to the final tread of bare old soles
worn from hiding where our steps have been,

pass our last stonewall,

a fragile plywood arm of dissent
dropped across our path,
like some last act of caution,
painted in yellow strips of bias

which drips from the brush of narrow minds.

Akeith Walters 2009

Rod C. Stryker, The Sun Poet

2011-07-20T22:40:00.003-05:00

"Rod C. Stryker has been writing poetry for more than twenty years. As a founder of The Sun Poet's Society, he has conducted open mic poetry readings and workshops at Barnes & Noble San Pedro Crossing for several years.

Exploits of a Sun Poet is his second collection of poems." ...Pecan Grove Press

I can not say enough about this great collection of poetry. I first met Mr. Stryker when I participated in the open mic poetry reading in San Antonio. Not only did I hear him read his own work but I have the good fortune to now own a copy of his book of poetry. I encourage anyone who likes to read the best of contemporary poets to purchase "Exploits of a Sun Poet".

And while you are at it, check out the PhotoArt of Rod C. Stryker.

.

Center Stage

2011-04-17T11:32:00.000-05:00

Poet, novelist, playwright, humanitarian, Biola Olatunde embodies the essential essence of an artist. She is the author and creator of Ephesus, a literary blog.

I have the privilege and pleasure of being interviewed by Miss Olatunde, which appears on her blog in Center Stage.

Please see this entertaining blog and enjoy the full scope of creativity that Biola has to offer.

TWO O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING by Lynn Stokes

2011-02-07T20:45:00.001-06:00

For a great listening experience of rich textured poetry, both written and spoken by the cowboy poet, Lynn Stokes, please go here.

It is a refreshing and entertaining compilation of new and original poetry with both a western "cowboy" flavor and universal appeal.

The Best Of Every Day Poets

2011-01-13T10:09:00.000-06:00

Quote:

"Short poetry can brighten your outlook, broaden your mind, bear you away to other worlds and times, or simply enliven a few moments of your day. Without the commitment that longer poetic works demand, and with a variety that single author collections can’t offer, an anthology of short poetry is a perfect choice for exploration, reflection, and sharing.

The Best of Every Day Poets One brings together one hundred short poems selected from Every Day Poets’ first year of publication. This eclectic mix of forms and voices has something for every mood and moment, from a global array of poets both experienced and new."

Great Collection

Gray Spots On The Wall

2010-10-06T18:28:00.001-05:00

Too many spots can be counted when leaning against a wall
in the late sunlight so bright it shadows itself
behind tall buildings.

The gray bricks
like me,
a nonchalant mismatch
patched with mortar,
prop shoulders in their sweater slouch

while kool wraps park on a nose
with pores scrubbed to tiny pits
and hairs trimmed to match a balding scalp.

Streetlamps shimmer,
spotlighting the sidewalk
where you step like an aging dancer through the crowd,
touching no one,

all the while touching me
with your smoke gray eyes and playful cigarette smile.

Akeith Walters 2010

From A Great Writer And Humanitarian, Biola Olatunde

2010-09-30T13:45:00.000-05:00

Blood Contract

Ken (Kenawari) left his village in the Niger Delta region many years ago, carrying with him emotional scars. However, he did make a life for himself in the city and built a reputation as a slick troubleshooter in inter-village disputes, of which there were many. He was one of the best operators on the books of the private security firm he worked for.

Then it happened. There was trouble in his tribal home. Reluctantly he agreed to return. Not only has he got to settle a dispute that resulted in kidnapping, and tread gingerly through the political minefield of the region - including local robber barons, but he also has to face the most fearsome obstacles of all - his past.

Blood Contract is not just an adventure set in the dangerous swamps of the Niger Delta, it is also the story of a man who is imperfect and must finally find some reconciliation with his past. Most of all, Biola Olatunde provides the reader with a vivid social commentary of the lives and challenges of those who live in this most neglected of corners of the earth.
Copyright © 2009, 2010 IFWG-Publishing all rights reserved. "

Blood Contract
http://ifwgpublishing.weebly.com/bio-biola-olatunde.html

NOW IN PRINT...smokestacks

2010-09-08T11:10:00.001-05:00

smokestacks is a great collection of photography and poetry about city scapes.

"Included in fosebook smokestack is photography from J.B. Krost and poetry from Megan Duffy, Anders Enochsson, Jenny Enochsson, Peter Greene, Francis Scudellari and A’keith Walters."

smokestacks

2010-08-22T11:12:00.002-05:00

fosebooks proudly presents the fantastic fosebook smokestack eBook. This is an exciting, thoughtful and dense book consisting of photography and poetry with an edge. A thin volume that weighs a ton. The focus is on the urban, the industrial, the bluesy and the beat-ish, with a variety of different styles. It's a free download!

There will hopefully also be a paperback version available at Lulu for $8.06. All revenues will go to WWF, which gives you yet another reason (among many) to buy it.

Included in fosebook smokestack is photography from J.B. Krost and poetry from Megan Duffy, Anders Enochsson, Jenny Enochsson, Peter Greene, Francis Scudellari and A’keith Walters.

Check out this brilliant book!

The Editors (Ande, Francis, Jenny)

John Yamrus

2010-07-30T21:21:00.002-05:00

For those of you who desire a break from the hum-drum drudgery of life, then I suggest you get yourself to:

http://www.spdbooks.org/Producte/9780981184487/doing-cartwheels-on-doomsday-afternoon.aspx?rf=1

and purchase DOING CARTWHEELS ON DOOMSDAY AFTERNOON by John Yamrus. It is a collection of delightful and refreshing, thought-provoking and sensual poems, employing an "everyday everyman's" motif of words. It is truly outstanding.

FOSEBOOK

2010-06-20T09:48:00.002-05:00

It is my privilege to be a collaborative member of the blog Flowers of Sulfur. Recently, the first FOS anthology has been made available as a free e-edition (please see the link below) with the print version soon to follow.

This anthology showcases the great artistic and poetic talent that can be found on the blog. It's members offer the brilliant colors of literary and visual creations, a sustenance often lacking on the table of daily living.

Come join us and enjoy yourselves.

Amie Saramelkonian

2010-06-07T10:13:00.006-05:00

For a refreshing pull at your heartstrings, to find respite in a dust-filled world, to experience enjoyment in a rare form, I recommend viewing this delightful compilation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89PdZQ56gWY

Poem by Amie Saramelkonian
Animation by Si Clark
Reading by Mark Hoffmann

A BRIEF NOTE FOR PASSION

2009-04-18T16:40:00.002-05:00

For those who are in need of a respite from the daily drudgery of living, a good spot to visit on your adventures in the virtual world is Short Story Library (http://shortstory.us.com/), one of the better online literary magazines around. Of particular note is the second release by ReadMe Publishing of “The Library’s Best “, an anthology of the best writing from this magazine.

The collection is edited by Casey Quinn, publisher, author, and poet, and includes great examples of writing from poetry to micro and flash fiction to short stories. The diversity of this jewel of literary art by excellent and talented writers offers a great chance for anyone who desires to indulge in gentle tugs of the heart and mind.

Further details of this treasure trove can be found at: http://shortstory.us.com/2009/04/readme-publishingreleases-ssl-best-of-2008-anthology/